Rajpal Yadav

I love comedy but I am Rajpal Yadav. I am not a comedian.

I don't think that in humor and jokes, in whatever way they are done, there is any kind of disrespect.

People who call me a comic actor are uneducated. It is their weakness. I feel pity for them.

In India, big stars like Akshay Kumar or Salman Khan do comedy and serious films and we call them great actors. But when it comes to actors of my stature, people rush to typecast me as a comedian without giving a look to all my work.

I am an actor and can perform any role depending on the requirement of the film. I have done several serious and multi-dimensional roles.

I have a problem being called a comedian. An actor must never be typecast in one way or the other.

I never shoot for a film telling myself that I have to make people laugh. I can't even do stand-up comedy.

I want to be a three-dimensional actor, excelling in comedy, negative roles and even serious roles.

I don't suffer from an inferiority complex because of my looks.

My wife is 5 ft 5, but I'm happy with whatever God has given me.

Body shaming comes from prejudice and it does not hold any importance in my life. All that matters is my hard work, my mission and my vision; now that shouldn't be short!

I feel comedy is one of the strongest emotions that an actor portrays and the most powerful one too.

I can't be typecast as a comedian. Only an actor capable of doing three-dimensional roles can do comedy.

I speak Marathi fluently and even during shoots I make it a point to speak in the language for most of the time.

If I had to worry about whether I'm ugly or short, I wouldn't get anywhere.

I always want to represent the common man.

Dara Singhji's voice and personality can't be duplicated. He was one of his kind.

While shooting in Patiala, I never felt as if I was shooting here for first time, such was the love I got from the locals and Punjabi actors shooting with me.

I always believe that if we Hindus are like milk, Punjabis, Sikhs are the butter, the best part of that milk. Brought up with that kind of respect for Punjabis, I always desired to play a true Sikh character on screen someday.

Where I come from in U.P., there is a whole settlement of Punjabis who converted sandy, barren lands into green fields swaying with agricultural produce. So, I have always had great respect for the Punjabi community.

A filmmaker who is good today might go on to fail tomorrow, and one that is not so good today, might become successful.

Everyone is born, and has a death date. The days in between are meant to live, which is why I am not afraid of anyone.

No filmmaker is God.

My relationship with David Dhawan saab is 20 years old. He has always loved me like a son.

I feel lucky that I have been getting nice roles in the comic genre.

Everyone told me that I shouldn't have started a production house, but I think otherwise.

Whether the role or the film is big or small, doesn't matter to me. It has to excite me.

I don't like the tag of comedy. I think I have done all kind of roles - negative, serious and entertaining.

I have two mothers - Maa and cinema, so I am grateful to Bollywood for giving me a lot.

I have been following Charlie Chaplin since my childhood days. He is an inspiration to everyone.

Varun Dhawan supported me a lot. Varun is very hard working and a good friend as well.

I don't have regrets from either life or the industry. I'm happy and satisfied with life.

When I decided to direct a film, I went through around 200 to 300 scripts. Out of which, 12 subjects were finalized and 'Aata Pata Laapta' emerged as the winner.

It's true that I have never done something like 'Yaar Dhokebaaz, Pyaar Dhokebaaz.' I colored my hair golden-brown. I am bare-chested in the song and have my own style of dancing. I thoroughly enjoyed what I was doing.

I personally don't identify with the character of a man who suffers inferiority complex due to a difference in height with his wife. I am a very confident person in real life and have no such hang-ups.

Challenges are what inspire me. I therefore accept whatever comes my way, be it supporting roles or character roles.

I love to experiment with my choice of roles. There's nothing to lose or gain when you do that. The returns are either zero or hundred per cent, but in either case you have the satisfaction of knowing that you tried something new.

I have always hoped and prayed that everyone grows in their lives, but I still want to be the smallest person. I am scared to become big. It fills you with unnecessary things such as ego, jealousy, etc.

You can practice dance, climbing a mountain and action stunts, but to get your timing right you have to have the power of imagination and an alert mind.

While Bollywood still remains my priority, I always wanted to do regional cinema. There are so many people who don't know Hindi, so I decided to do regional films wherein even those who don't know me can see my work.

When I had entered Bollywood, I had decided that in the first decade of my career, I will do what others ask me to do, and in the next decade, I will do what I want.

'Padosan' is a three-dimensional film. The chemistry between Saira Banu, Sunil Dutt and Mehmood is too good.

I call it a comedy film, but I feel that is because 'Sholay' is a complete film. It is the best in every aspect. You see the music, the editing, dialogues, action, drama, tragedy, and the emotions of this film and you will find everything is perfect. It is a flawless film.

It is difficult to pinpoint my favorite comedies.

When somebody offers you a role which you might not have done for a long time then it becomes a challenge for you.

I feel an actor is an entertainer first then a performer.

I loved every minute of the scripting, writing and developing of 'APL.'

Even though I've acted in many films, I have directed for the first time, and I will always consider myself a student.

Besides acting, I had learnt a lot about entertainment at the Bhartendu Natya Academy, Lucknow and the National School of Drama, Delhi, which I had not been able to put to use. That inspired me to take up direction.

I have been wanting to add an 'a' in my name for a long time. Finally, I managed to do that.